Bipolar and Cocaine

A diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder along with a cocaine addiction is called a dual diagnosis. The term also applies to any situation where a mental illness plus a substance use disorder occurs.

It’s essential to seek professional treatment to get the help you need. Co-occurring disorders will not disappear on their own and can develop into an increasingly complicated set of symptoms.

Cocaine and co-occurring bipolar disorder is not uncommon. Those with Bipolar I Disorder may use a particula drug to self-manage the “lows” of depressive episodes or to intensify euphoric feelings during hypomanic episodes. Unfortunately, cocaine only offers brief relief, so the person starts to use the substance more frequently. This abuse becomes a physical dependence on cocaine and an increased risk of severe addiction to the drug.

Cocaine use amplifies the high and low periods of bipolar disorder. The manic episodes become more explosive, and the depressive episodes even sadder.

On the other hand, bipolar symptoms lead to further substance abuse. It creates a vicious cycle of cocaine addiction. How the two mental health conditions – the bipolar disorder and cocaine abuse – interact can vary, depending on the individual.

Co-occurring disorders are not limited only to cocaine use and bipolar disorder. With many mental disorders, people find themselves swept into an addiction from trying to manage their troubling symptoms.

Besides bipolar disorder, other common co-occurring disorders that can affect people include these examples:

• Anxiety disorders and alcohol abuse
• PTSD and cocaine or stimulant use
• Depression and prescription painkiller medications
• Eating disorders with stimulant medications

The dual diagnosis conditions possible are almost beyond limits. But that doesn’t mean you can’t get the appropriate treatment for your symptoms.

Imagine putting together a puzzle with the pieces forced into the wrong place. The finished project would be distorted, and the final image would be almost unrecognizable. But if you take the wrong parts out of the puzzle and reassemble them, you can recreate the image and make it beautiful.

That’s how treatment professionals can help – our team can guide you toward breaking down the poor coping mechanisms you’ve had to develop and replace them with better ones. With some effort, you can end drug abuse and enjoy better mental health despite your bipolar disorder.

Some people avoid a detox and recovery center because they fear treatment costs. They don’t realize that the Affordable Care Act forced insurance companies participating in the Health Insurance Marketplace to make mental health benefits equal to physical wellness benefits. The myth that mental illnesses are not covered is a myth.

We are here to help you make all the arrangements for your cocaine addiction and bipolar disorder treatment. Our admissions department professionals can call your insurance company, make sure you pay the minimum out-of-pocket costs, and provide an estimate before you arrive.

You’ll focus on recovery with peace of mind.

Bipolar disorder and drug use can be very tricky to treat. Some don’t require hospitalization for their symptoms, but many do. Some of the variables that influence a decision to commit to inpatient treatment are:

• A major depressive episode with thoughts of self-harm, suicide, or harming others
• Manic episodes causing recklessness or putting the person in imminent danger
• Mixed episodes that have persisted despite care (sometimes may have tried medications from a well-intending primary care physician)
• The symptoms are so intense that an immersive setting is the only way the person can focus on their well-being
• The self-medicating drug use has continued for years and has become “sticky”

Inpatient treatment at Ingrained is also appropriate for anyone who has tried outpatient drug addiction or bipolar disorder treatment programs in the past.

Cocaine detox is more complicated for someone with bipolar disorder. It takes specialized care to both stabilize the low or manic episodes of bipolar disorder while also stopping drug use. Withdrawal symptoms can start within a few hours of the last dose of the drug. In a medical setting, treatment professionals will provide treatment to keep the symptoms to a minimum during this critical phase.

Medication-Assisted Therapy (MAT) is the science of finding the correct doses of the proper prescription medication while avoiding drug interactions with medicines for other conditions.

Even when the struggle with drug abuse ends, bipolar disorder will remain. Our team will help you find the right medications and the proper doses to help you live a more balanced life. With our

Once you are stable and detox is underway, you’ll work one-on-one and in a group setting to understand the connection between manic episodes and drug abuse. Then, you will replace those faulty connections with healthier coping tools.

Your therapist may use a variety of therapies:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT helps people identify negative thoughts and actions that have contributed to the addiction. The therapy process helps develop practical skills to cope with triggers and manage emotions in a better way moving forward.
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): DBT, a sub-type of CBT, improves personal skills, which the mood swings of the depressed and manic phases of bipolar disorder have often damaged. The technique teaches mindfulness and how to cope with distress. It’s very helpful for people struggling with mood disorders and addiction.
• Motivational Interviewing (MI): MI is a client-centric approach that helps a person maintain the motivation they need to make lasting changes. The person explores their personal reasons for wanting to overcome addiction and grow more confident that they can manage the bipolar disorder. The National Institute on Drug Abuse explains that including this technique means people choose to stay in treatment when they feel like giving up.
• Art or Music Therapy: Creative therapies help people express the emotions that they may not have the words to explain. It can center and calm the mind and creates self-awareness on a whole new level.

Our professionals are dedicated to helping you reshape negative thoughts and behaviors that come from your bipolar disorder.

Working with our beautiful horses helps you develop emotional awareness, often dulled by bipolar disorder and addiction. It is a science-backed therapy that’s impactful and integrates seamlessly with the other services you’ll receive at Ingrained.

Before you leave our program, you will also have an aftercare plan to help avoid relapse.

• If you’ve come to us from outside the area, that could mean a referral to a local counselor for follow-up.
• You might make a list of phone numbers to call if you feel like you might slip back into substance use or addiction or when you feel an incoming manic episode.
• An aftercare plan will probably include a list of weekly Narcotics Anonymous or SMART Recovery meetings in your community.
• You might even write yourself a list of self-care strategies during a manic episode.
• Perhaps you’ll write down a daily schedule to provide built-in support and routines.

This plan will be unique and meaningful to you. It’s your roadmap to staying free of addiction while managing your bipolar disorder.